Reversible clutch



T. s. BRlsKlN ET AL j Oct. l, 1946.

I y REVERSIBLECLUTCH Filed July 127, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l razgs o@ l, 1946 T. s. BRISKIN -rm. 2,408,506

REVERSIBLE CLUTCH Filed July 227,` 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 T; s. BRlsKx'N ETAL REVERSIBLE CLUTCH.

` 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 27. 1944 d if@ M; 2% @5km/ Zig/m 2% iwf 5 a @i de f. f L

0777( @SIS Patented Oct. 1, i946 f REVERSIBLE f CLUTCH Theodore S. Briskin, Joseph Charles Zivny, Alvin Edward Schellsohmidt, and Julian Joseph Golick, Chicago, Il1.,assignors to Excel Auto Radiator Company, Chicago, vIll., a corporation of Delaware e Application July 27, 1944, Serial No. 546,818

This invention relates to improvements in overrunning clutches and in particular to an overrunning clutch, the action of which is reversible.

An overrunning clutch generally comprises two rotatable elements together withmeansto cause a torque to be applied from `one of said elements to the other when the tendency to slip occurs Yin one direction but not in the other. y In the usual application one ofl thek elements is considered a driving element and the other the driven element, and the torque will be transmitted from the driving to the driven element at alltimes except when there is a negative .load on the .driven element or unless the direction of rotation of the driving element is reversed. v

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a clutch which is operative as an overrunning clutch irrespective ofthe direction of rotation of the driven element.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved overrunning clutch having a plurality of clutching orlocking elements, the arrangement of the parts being such that all of said clutching or locking elements are effective.

Another object is to provide an improved clutch which may be rendered operative or inoperative by control means which shift the lclutching elements into or out of operative position. f

Still another object is to provide an improved construction for clutches of the .roller-bearing or free wheeling type, which construction `embodies comparatively few yparts and is positive, in its action. y

Various other objects-features and advantages will become apparent as the'descripticn proceeds.

With reference now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts,

8 Claims. (Cl. M22-,44) A Fig. 1 is an elevation of a preferred embodiy ment of this invention, a portion being rbroken l away to show the underlying parts;` ,v

Fig. 2 is a section 'of the device shown in Fig. 1 taken along line 2-2 of Fig.,3;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line Fig. 1; f f

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspectiveview of one vof the roller positioning segments; and n Figs. 5 and Scare sectionsshowing a modification. n I' The clutch as herein shown is generally of cylindrical shape and-comprises two end members I I! and II which are supported between two supports I2 and I3. Theend members are spaced from each otherby 'a' core I4 and the five parts above listed are secured togetherby means `o'f'a pluralityof bolts I5, each of which extends through a support and an end member and is threaded into the core. A portion of the core is cut awayto accommodate a pinion I 6 which is secured to a drive shaft I1, the latter extending through the support I3 and being journaled in the end member Il.

'Ihe end members I0 and II are provided with shoulders 20 and 2 I', respectively, on which shoulders are mounted ball-bearing sets designated generally by the reference numerals I8 and I9, respectively. A driven member 22 in the form of a ring is mounted on the ball-bearing sets I8 and I9.

There is a press fitl between the ball-bearing sets and the shoulders and between the ballbearing sets and the driven member 22. The driven member is herein shown in the form of a .belt pulley, but it will be understood that if desired it may be provided with gear teeth, or any other expedient ymay :be used to transmit the Atorque from the driven member to the apparatus.

It jwill be seen that the arrangement of the parts above described is such that the driven member 22 will rotate freely in either direction.

Radially outwardly of the core I4 is disposed a driving member in the form of an internal ring gear 24 having a plurality of peripheral cavities 25 which are bounded by 4arc shaped inner walls 26 'and the inner cylindricalsurface of the driven member 22. These cavities 25 are separated by radially disposed spacers 28 by means of which the internal gear 24 is centered or journaled Within the driven member 22. The internal gear meshes with and is driven by the pinion I6.

Torque istransmittedfrom the internal gear 24 to the driven member 22 by means of clutching or locking elementsin the form of rollers 21. As shown inFig, 2, the rollers are wedged between the inner walls 26 of the cavities and the inner 'surface 'of the driven member 22 in such a manner that clockwise rotation of the ring gear will be transmitted to the driven member. If the rollers were positioned at the clockwise extremity of the cavities 25 counterclockwise rotation of the f internal gear would be transmitted to the driven .or the clockwise ends of the cavities v25 in order to secure operation of the clutch in clockwise or counterclockwise directions, respectively.` 'Ihe segments 30 comprise a segmental shaped body member 33 having two projecting lugs 3| and 32 which are adapted to embrace a roller 21 with a slight clearance. Each segment also includes a rearwardly extending portion 34 which is in the form of a section of a hollow cylinder. These rearwardly extending portions 34 t within the inner race member 35 oi the ball-bearing set I8 and are held thereagainst by means of a spring 36. It will be noted that the spring 36 is disposed just outwardly of a circular boss 3l formed on the end member l, the boss being slotted as indicated at 38 to accommodate the bent in endsv of the spring The spring 3d urges each one of the segments outwardly against the stationary inner race 35 so that there is a frictional contact between the segments and the stationary member. This tends to make the segments lag behind the internal gear 24 during rotation of the latter,

For instance, if the internal gear is rotatingA in a clockwise direction this frictional drag or lag will cause the segments 3.0 to b e positioned toward the countercloclrwise end of the cavities 25, thereby maintaining the rollers 2'! in a position for the transmission o f clockwise torque. Oi course, when the lost motion between the internal gear and the segments has been taken up the segments will be carried along with the other parts due to the engagement of the lug 32 with the roller 2li.

If the driven member 22 tends to overrun the internal gear 2.4, as by the application of a negative load thereto, the rollers 2l will tend to be moved out of their wedged position. As soon as this occurs however the rollers no longer transmit torque from one of the elements to the other and the driven element 22 is free to overrun.

If the direction yof rotation of the internal gear is reversed however the segments will be shifted to the clock-wise end of the cavities 25 and the driven member 22 will then be rotated in the countercloclrwise direction. In other words, the position of thesegments 3Q with respect to the cavities 2e is not aiected by any change in the direction of rotation of the ydriven element Z2 but is determined solely by the direction of the relative vrotation between the driving member and another member which in this instance is a stationary member-the inner race 35.

With a clutch of this construction torque may be transmitted in either direction., the position of the rollers being shifted from one end of the cavi-ty to the other automatically as the direction of rotation of the driving member is shifted. The arrangement of the parts however is such that the driven member is permitted `to overrun in the `same direction of rotation as the driven member is rotating or was rotating.

The locking positions of the rollers 2T with respect to their respective cavities 25 may vary from one cavity to the other due to minor inaccuracies in the machining of the parts. Such variation is permitted by mounting each pair of lugs, 3i and 32, on separate segments, the ultimate position of each segment being independently determined with respect tothe others. Thus, each roller is permitted to seek its own locking position, andall rollers are eiiective torque transmitting elements.

In the modification shown in Figs. and 6, a slightly different means has been provided for mounting the segments 39'. This modiiied arrangement keeps a bias on the segments after the internal gear 24' has come to a stop. Thus the rollers 2l may be maintained in clutched position, and the driven member 22 can be rotated in the same direction as it previously had been driven. However the driven member cannot be rotated in the reverse direction because the rollers 2l are biased into clutched position.

Those parts of Figs. 5 and 6 which are identical to corresponding parts of Figs. 1 to 3 are indicated by .the ksame reference numeral primed.

End member iii is provided with a boss 43 which has cut into it a U-shaped recess 4| at the bottom of which is a slot 42. A spring 43 surrounds the boss and is provided with bent in ends 44 which extend into the recess 4l and are received in slot 42. 'The segments 36' are coniined between `a ring 4 5 and spring 43 so that the frictional drag which determines the position of the rollers 2l is between the spring 43 and the segments 39'. Preferably there is a slight clearance between the ring 45 and the inner race member 35 which permits free rotation of the ring under certain circumstances. This rotation is limited in extent by the abutting o the ends 44 with corner d5 o r corner 46 of recess 4l.

In operation it will be seen that a-s the internal gear `24 starts to rotate fin the clockwise direction, the ring 45 and the segments 30 will remain stationary until vthe rollers 21 are wedged into the clockwise .end of the cavities 25', after which the segments will begin to rotate with the driven member 22'. The ring 45 and the spring 43 will be dragged by the segments 30' until such time as the bent portions 44 of the spring 43 contact the corner .46. Thereafter, spring 43 will rotate no further, and the slippage between the segments Sii and spring 43 will create'thedrag which maintains the segments at the counterclockwise end of the cavities, in the same manner as described in connection with Figures l to 3. When internal gear 24 stops however, the bias of the bent portions 44 of the spring will cause the segments and hence rollers 27 to be maintained in wedged position as shown in Fig. 5. Thus the driven member 22 can overrun in the same direction, 'but not in the reverse direction. Fig. 5 shows the parts in this position.

When internal gear 24' is rotated in the reverse direction, the bent portions 44 are flexed in the other direction so that after internal gear 24' comes to rest, the segments will maintain the rollers 21 in the clockwise ends of cavities 25.

Although Aonly a preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown herein it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention, The foregoing descriptions and the drawings are deemed to be illustrative only and the invention is to be defined 0.1115 by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A reversible `overrunning clutch, comprising an annular rotatable member, an internal ring gear journalled therein, a stationary member on which said annular ,member is journalled, said ring gear being formed with a peripheral recess which cooperates with the inner surface of said driven member ,to form a cavity which tapers at both ends, a roller .disposed Within said cavity and adapted to be wedged at either end of said cavity between the .tapering walls thereof, and roller positioning means including a member projecting into said cavity and engaging the roller disposed therein -to maintain it at one end of said cavity or the other and having a portion which is maintained in frictional contact with said stationary member whereby Athe position of said roller in said cavity will be determined by the direction of rotation of said ring gear.

2. A reversible overrunning clutch, comprising a driving member in -the form of an internal ring gear, a driven member disposed exteriorly thereof, a stationary member on which said driven member is journaled, said ring gear being formed with recesses in the periphery thereof which cooperate with the inner surface of said driven member to form a plurality of cavities which taper at both ends, rollers disposed within said cavities, and roller positioning means comprising a segment for each cavity, each segment being provided with arms extending into its corresponding cavity and embracing the roller `disposed therein, and having a portion which is maintained in irictional contact with said stationary member whereby the position of the rollers in said cavities will be determined by the direction of rotation of said ring gear.

3. A reversible overrunning clutch, comprising an annular driven member, a driving member gear journaled in said driven member, a stationary Support on which said driven member is journaled, said driving member being formed with recesses in the periphery thereof which cooperate with the inner surface of said driven member to form a plurality of cavities which'taper at both ends, clutching elements disposed within said cavities and adapted to be wedged at one or the other of the ends of said cavities for transmitting torque in the forward or reverse direction, respectively, and positioning means for said clutching elements comprising a segment for each cavity, each segment being provided with a projection extending into a corresponding cavity and engaging the clutching element disposed therein, said segments being mounted for rotation With said driving member, and means to shift the positions of said segments with respect to said driving member whereby the positions of said clutching members in said cavities will be determined by the direction of rotation of said driving member.

4. A reversible overrunning clutch, comprising a driving member in the form of an internal ring gear, a driven member disposed exteriorly thereof, a stationary support on which said driven member is journaled, said ring gear being formedy with recesses in the periphery thereof which cooperate with the inner surface of said driven member to form a plurality of cavities which taper at both ends, rollers disposed within said cavities, and roller positioning means comprising a segment for each cavity, each segment being provided with arms extending into a corresponding cavity and embracing the roller disposed therein, said segments having portions extending into proximity to said stationary member, and a spring for urging said portions into frictional contact with said stationary member whereby the position of the rollers in said cavities will be determined by the direction of rotation of said ring gear.

5. A reversible free wheeling clutch, comprising a driving member, a driven member, a plurality of locking elements associated with said driving member and capable of assuming with respect thereto a forward driving position and a. reverse driving position in each of which saidy locking elements lock said driven member to said driving member in unidirectional torque transmitting relationship, separate positioning members, each one engaging a different locking element to shift each locking element individually from said forward driving position to reverse driving position, and resilient means adapted to be displaced to a limited extent to'one side or the other of a neutral position, and being frictionally associated with all of said positioning members whereby the operation of said positioning members is controlled by the direction of the tendency toward slippage between said driving member and said frictional means.

6. A reversible overrunning clutch, comprising a driving member in the form of an internal ring gear, a driven member disposed exteriorly thereof, said ring gear being formed with recesses in the periphery thereof which cooperate with the inner surface of said driven member to form a plurality of cavities which taper at both ends, rollers disposed within said cavities, roller positioning means comprising a segment for each cavity, each segment being provided with arms extending into a corresponding cavity and ernbracing the roller disposed therein, a ring posi- Y tioned adjacent to said segments, said segments said spring to a comparatively small eXtent toy either side of a neutral position, beyond which slippage occurs between said spring and said segments as said segments rotate With said driven v member whereby a bias is maintained by said spring on said segments after said driven member has come to a stop.

'7. In a reversible free wheeling clutch of the type having two independently rotatable elements provided with oppcsitely disposed surfaces which are shaped to form a plurality of cavities and a plurality of clutch elements in said cavities, positioning means for said clutch elements by means of which unidirectional clutching action may be exerted alternatively in opposite directions, comprising a separate positioning member engaging each clutching element, and a common member independently mounted with respect to said rotatable elements and frictionally engaging all of said positioning elements whereby each of said clutching elements is free to seek an Operative position in its respective cavity.

S. In a reversible free wheeling clutch of the type having two independently rotatable elements provided with oppositely disposed surfaces which are shaped to form a plurality oi' cavities and a plurality of clutching elements in said cavities, positioning means for said clutching elements by means of which unidirectional clutching action may be exerted alternatively in opposite directions, comprising a separate positioning member engaging each clutching element, a common member independently mounted with respect to said rotatable elements and frictionally engaging all of said positioning elements, and means to bias said common member toward a neutral position whereby said positioning members and clutching elements are maintained in operative clutching position even though the parts are stationary.

THEODORE S. BRISKIN.

JOSEPH CHARLES ZIVNY.

ALVIN EDWARD SCHELLSCHMIDT.

JULIAN JOSEPH GOLICK. 

